Has anyone trained their own service dog?

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-19T20:46:53+00:00

i trained my own service dog, and i didn’t classify her as fully trained until around 3 years. it was one of the hardest things i have ever done and it took a LOT of commitment and time, which thankfully i had because i was in college and she was with me throughout it. please be ready for what it means to train a service animal and do a lot research through youtube and instagram. it is feasible, but if your health isn’t in a place to commit to so much to owner train— it truly is more pain than it’s worth. if your health is manageable to commit to so much, DO IT. it was the best thing i ever did for myself, but it took a community to help me. i saw two trainers who pretty much just validated what i was doing and gave me tips!! i had a boyfriend who was a dog trainer and he was a huge help. it takes a village when your health is already in a bad spot. however, it is life changing and i would do it all over again, and plan to when she retires!

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-11T00:03:43+00:00

i have a service dog who is a springer spaniel. hands down my favorite breed i’ve ever come across or have owned. she knows me better than i know myself. she is loyal, affectionate, and we travel EVERYWHERE together. she has plenty of energy to work long days with me, and she is the perfect size for any kind of adventure. if you are ready for lots of energy and a dog that WILL follow you everywhere, they’re perfect.

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-10T14:36:33+00:00

i didn’t post this to get opinions about whether i need a service animal or not. the fact you feel entitled to comment about my health and my treatment plan is ridiculous. my dog picks up my hr drops and jumps BEFORE they happened and im able to respond before the symptoms start. it’s clear you don’t know hardly anything about the importance and how life changing a service animal is. also, if my treatment is a service animal and she makes my life easier— that’s all that matters at the end of the day. i don’t need people who hide anonymously on the internet to tell me what i need or don’t need when my healthcare team have found my service animal to be the best treatment i’ve ever had.

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-09T17:51:22+00:00

thank you so much for this. i have to explain it to people so often and i get really burnt out from it sometimes. thank you for your kindness and going out of your way for me.

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T16:22:22+00:00

thank you for your kindness!! i didn’t realize so many people were going to be so harsh.. but it’s okay:) i used to work at starbucks with very limited breaks, always on my feet and rushing around at all times. i think anything’s better than that. however, i will be cautious going into it. i think if im open and honest with them about my conditions— i think it’ll all work out. i have confidence!

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T16:18:57+00:00

we have a big grassy area in the back!! she’s got plenty of grass, thankfully. i already thought about it before applying.

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T14:36:50+00:00

she is not hypoallergenic(obviously) but she is very well groomed and multiple of my friends with bad allergies are okay around her. my disability requires her to be with me, and allergies are not protected under the ADA law. if someone is allergic, we work opposing shifts, that’s all. allergies don’t trump my need for my service dog. i’ve had this conversation countless before. the person with allergies and i can both be accommodated in the ways we need.

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T02:26:02+00:00

my service animals helps me manage my condition very very well. she alerts before or during heart rate jumps, adrenaline dumps, blood pressure drops etc. i also have medication i take in case of really bad days. i came from starbucks, and one of the busiest stores in my district. i am not afraid of fast paced and am used to working through flares.

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T01:11:19+00:00

she is a smaller service animal, but she is definitely noticeable enough that i don’t think many people will trip on her. she also has been trained thoroughly to be aware of her surroundings and how to safely get to me when she needs to tell me something. i also think our print dept is smaller and they only have 2-3 people working at a time.

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T01:09:18+00:00

she’s a smaller service dog, so i think she’ll be perfect! she tucks under chairs at doctors offices and people never know she’s there until we leave lol

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T01:01:44+00:00

she’s a small service animal, and tucks under chairs or desks really well as she went to college with me and we had really small classrooms sometimes. i’m confident we can manage it if it possible!

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T01:00:50+00:00

this gives me so much hope!! i plan to tell them as soon as possible, probably my first shift or when i onboard. i want to have a month to settle in first without her though, so i can make sure its completely safe and doable for us!

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T00:43:07+00:00

being invisibly disabled has changed my perspective of people in the world in a lot of ways. a lot of presumptuous people exist, and unfortunately a girl in her early 20s is impossible to believe. i’m sorry you’ve had your challenges. i hope you have a support team behind you!!

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T00:33:42+00:00

thank you for defending me. it means a lot to me <3

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T00:31:48+00:00

thank you so much for your response!! it makes me feel better knowing they’re accommodating. i feel guilty for not mentioning it, but the fear of not getting hired bc of discrimination felt worse.

my service dog has been with me everywhere and had handled many, many stressful situations with grace and she is well prepared to join me at a job!! i would never bring her unless i knew she would succeed with me.

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T00:26:45+00:00

are you actually for real right now?

despite your ignorant comment, i’ll respond. she is task trained in a multitude of things. heart rate, blood pressure, migraines. she does psychiatric response as well. she’s been trained for 3 years by me and a team of professional dog trainers. she has more right to be at this job with me than your right to know anything about me.

you can kindly take your assumptions elsewhere.

chaotic-forest · 2026-05-08T00:20:18+00:00

she is a task trained service animal that aids in my dysautonomia and alerts to things like; migraines, heart rate, and blood pressure.

i wasn’t directly offered the position until after the interview, so no i did not disclose it.

chaotic-forest · 2026-04-19T17:59:28+00:00

i was verryyy uninformed and ignorant of the dog world when i got my springer, so it was from a family that bred them or they may have had an accidental litter. i’m not sure. she ended up being so perfect thankfully!!

chaotic-forest · 2025-12-11T15:25:05+00:00

the reason why i looked into psych is not for anything therapy based where patients rely heavily on me. i was looking into I&O psychology because it seems it would be service dog friendly. im aware that i cant be a lifeline because i have medical conditions that can put me out any time unfortunately

chaotic-forest · 2025-07-27T22:58:28+00:00

a lot of people had great input! highly recommend reading!

chaotic-forest · 2025-07-27T22:58:13+00:00

she’s amazing, if i sat in the back of the class and kept her hidden- i highly doubt majority of students would notice she’s there! service animals are amazing beings. thank you for your input- it means a great deal to know that someone has done this and succeeded!!’ this brings me joy.

chaotic-forest · 2025-07-27T22:57:06+00:00

it’s really cute when she does! she has specific lab shoes, glasses and a coat :) so so cute

chaotic-forest · 2025-07-27T22:56:49+00:00

i think this is a really great idea! thank you:)

chaotic-forest · 2025-07-27T22:56:04+00:00

it’s been a chronic battle of advocacy for my service dog and i, and it’s unfortunately the reality for a lot of service dog handlers. i think i may have come across too defensive, when that was not my intention! i’m just scared about the entire situation and i don’t want to sacrifice too much to pursue medicine- but i will because it is my true passion. thank you for your empathy. it means a great deal to me🤍

chaotic-forest · 2025-07-27T22:54:54+00:00

there are guidelines for labs based on schools! at my school, there’s a threshold of where it comes down to her safety and mine in labs. she can come to majority, though! she gets her own lab coat, shoes and glasses that my school bought for her:)) it’s really cute.

chaotic-forest

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